From the Commissioner’s Desk

Hello Friends,

Let’s talk stormwater and safety across District 4. One of the three components of the Indian River Estates Phase 3 drainage project is moving forward, with the backflow preventer construction contract scheduled to be awarded next month. This improvement will help limit the amount of water from the Savannas flowing back into the neighborhood. The other two components are still in design but making progress. The proposed pond enlargement near US 1—to help alleviate flooding on Easy Street from Buchanan to Palmetto—is a little over 50% designed. Meanwhile, the historical swale re-establishment along the southern edge from Cassia Drive eastward is at about 40% design. I am also closely following the installation of the new traffic light at Glades Cutoff and Commerce Centre Drive. Wylder expects to receive the poles by the end of November, with the light installed and fully operational by the end of January. Wishing all you ghouls and ghosts a fun and safe Halloween!

Coming Soon to an Event Near You!

 

Visit St. Lucie, St. Lucie County’s Tourism Department, recently received its new Mobile Visitors Center. The fully branded outreach van is designed to meet visitors where they are—at beaches, festivals, sports complexes, downtown events, and other visitor-heavy gatherings throughout St. Lucie County. The vehicle will also travel to target markets across Florida and the U.S., serving as a roving ambassador for St. Lucie to inspire trips, attract visitors, and promote the area as a vacation destination far and wide. The van was 100% funded by tourist taxes, which are paid by visitors to St. Lucie County. No local property taxes were used for its purchase.

Ribbon Cutting for SLC Fire Station No. 20

Commissioner Fowler joined fellow elected officials and community representatives to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for SLC Fire Station No. 20, marking an important milestone in public safety and community service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow the Commissioner

Commissioner Fowler’s “Shadow the Commissioner” program gives high school and 4-H students a behind-the scenes look at how local government works by exploring various county departments. Dayanara Morrison, a junior at Treasure Coast High School, enjoyed her shadowing experience so much in May that she asked to return in September. During her second visit, she had the opportunity to attend an actual Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting and even participated in the group photo for the Service Dog Awareness Proclamation.

 

 

Port St. Lucie Welcomes USL Soccer Stadium in 2027

A major economic development initiative is underway in Port St. Lucie, as the City prepares to welcome a United Soccer League (USL) League One team franchise to the Walton & One area. This professional soccer stadium is set to anchor and ignite the development of Walton & One, envisioned as a key cultural and entertainment hub in Port St. Lucie. The Walton & One Master Plan includes a mix of residential, retail, office, hotel, and entertainment spaces, ensuring that no single developer controls the entire site. With the City owning a majority of the parcels in Walton & One, and market analyses showing strong demand, the timing is ideal for the stadium to kick-start Walton & One's development. No taxpayer money from the City’s General Fund will be used for this project. Ebenezer, the developer, must post a construction bond to guarantee the stadium’s completion. The City will not be responsible for any of Ebenezer’s debts. The City is not investing any up-front capital into the project, other than granting use of the land.

 

 

Kiwanis Club at Fort Pierce Yacht Club

I had the pleasure of providing a county update and answering questions with the Fort Pierce Sunrise Kiwanis Club.

 

 

HIGH-FIVE HERO: Meet Adolfo Covelli

 

Hello everyone,

My name is Adolfo Covelli, and I have been with the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners since June 2020. My journey began as a Transit Operations Manager with the county’s transit system. After serving in that role for a little over two years, I was tasked with serving as the interim director before becoming the full-time director in October 2022. I have been fortunate to be part of a great organization and a department that provides valuable services to our community. In this role, I provide support to both county staff and our contractors—more than 150 employees in total. Some of my main responsibilities include overseeing our contractor and the successful execution of the county’s Transit Development Plan. This plan serves as a roadmap for the county’s transit system over a 10-year planning horizon. It includes the expansion of services, the continued purchase of vehicles to keep pace with our ever-growing community and includes plans to construct both a bus terminal in Port St. Lucie and a Transit Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Facility. I have lived in St. Lucie County since 2004, and these last five years have been the most rewarding of my career. That is largely due to my incredible team and the gratitude expressed by the residents who use our services. Providing transportation for dialysis and Alzheimer’s patients, as well as helping residents get to school and work, gives both my team and me a strong sense of purpose. None of this would be possible without the continued support of our residents, County Administration, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Pawsitive Spotlight!!

 

My name is "Poppet", and, as my name suggests, I'm an endearingly sweet and pretty young girl! One night, I wandered up to someone's house in northern Fort Pierce — scared and all alone. The kind people who found me kept me safe overnight. The next day, on August 28th, St. Lucie County Animal Safety picked me up as a stray and brought me to their facility, hoping my owner would come looking for me… but they never did. I was heartbroken when I realized I had been abandoned by the people who were supposed to love and take care of me. Even though the staff didn’t know my history before I arrived, they do know one thing for sure: I’m a sweet, playful girl who gets along well with other dogs. They think I might be a mix between a Jack Russell and an Australian Cattle Dog… maybe?! I'm a small-to-medium-sized girl, and they estimate my age to be about a year old.